Naval Undersea Warfare Center Division Keyport

Last week, NUWC Division, Keyport STEM Outreach Coordinator Sam De Lano, Keyport STEM Volunteer Rusty Grable, and PSNS & IMF STEM Coordinator Erin Guizzetti, hosted a Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) Workshop for public educators from across the state during the Washington Industrial Technology Education Association Conference. Teachers were broken into teams and spent the morning building underwater ROVs, which were then tested in a pool. Teachers experienced the Sea Perch workshop the same way it is delivered to students, providing them with a better understanding of the project-based curriculum, which is designed to make buoyancy, propulsion, and system integration seem easy. #NavySTEM #communitypartners

The Keyport Innovation Center onboard Naval Undersea Warfare Center Division, Keyport now features a state-of-the-art electronic classroom that is quickly becoming a vital resource for collaborative training and knowledge sharing within the local Naval community. The classroom recently hosted a week-long training course on SolidWorks, a leading computer-aided design software used for creating 3D models and engineering simulations. Ten engineers—five from NUWC Division, Keyport and five from Puget Sound Naval Shipyard and Intermediate Maintenance Facility—participated in the training, which provided advanced design and simulation skills essential to their work supporting the Navy’s undersea warfare mission. The training was made possible through a collaboration between KIC Director Jacob Snow and John Cotter, PSNS & IMF’s Design Engineering Division Head, who arranged a cost-sharing agreement that allowed both organizations to send employees to the training. This SolidWorks course is one in a series of on-site training events to be held in the KIC’s electronic classroom. According to Snow and Cotter, this approach to professional development not only fosters a more collaborative, knowledgeable workforce, but also saves taxpayer dollars by reducing the need for employees to travel elsewhere for training. “It's really great because now people don't have to travel to go take that training,” said Snow. “They can do it right here at Keyport.” Cotter added, “If I can share the cost with Keyport and I only send five and they send five, we get the full cost benefit of the class to the government, but it's shared."

Happy Monday, Team! Check out the spotlight below on another exemplary NUWC Division, Keyport employee! Katie Sandwell, head of the Test and Evaluation Department’s Undersea Warfare Ship Test and Evaluation Branch at NUWC Division, Keyport Detachment Pacific, is a key figure leading innovations to improve the Navy's readiness and operational capability. ? Katie, a San Diego native, has always been drawn to the ocean. She took up swimming, diving and surfing at the age of seven and went on to develop a fascination with the mechanics of navigating water, which in turn led her to earn a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Hawaii at Manoa in 2009. ? After completing her degree, she began working as an engineer at Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard and Intermediate Maintenance Facility. While she had never pictured herself working with submarines, she welcomed the opportunity to learn a new field. She initially worked in hull, mechanical and electrical testing on submarines, then moved to the Combat Systems Division. ? Over the next 13 years, Katie gained extensive experience in combat systems testing and performance management, serving in roles such as head of PHNS & IMF’s Combat Systems Test Division, lead test engineer, work control manager, assistant chief test engineer for combat systems, availability performance manager and head of the Combat Systems Chief of Naval Operations Waterfront Execution Branch. ? In 2022, Katie began her current role at Detachment Pacific, where she brought her shipyard experience to bear on a new challenge: leading a team focused on testing and evaluating sonar systems on destroyers and cruisers. She amply rose to this challenge, quickly earning praise from coworkers for her leadership, technical expertise, positive attitude and dedication to her team. ? “Katie’s strong leadership has fostered a collaborative and highly motivated team that consistently exceeds expectations in executing [Undersea Warfare Combat System Ship Qualification Trials], proactively addresses key initiatives and maintains a commitment to excellence in all aspects of mission support,” said her supervisor. ? An employee of Katie’s added, “She’s honestly an awesome boss and just genuinely cares about the people around her.” ? Outside of work, Katie continues to pursue her passion for surfing, diving and other ocean sports. She also finds enjoyment in woodworking, home improvement projects and spending time with her pointer mix Mellie.

The Resilient Communications program at Naval Undersea Warfare Center Division, Keyport is tapping into the unique benefits of amateur radio to strengthen the command’s emergency communications capabilities. Its goal is to build a reliable, robust communications network that can serve as a backup when traditional systems fail. Check out the full story here:?https://lnkd.in/gcC3GFsm.

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Happy Monday, Team! Check out the spotlight below on another exemplary NUWC Division, Keyport employee! Gillian Morris, an information systems security engineer in the Test and Evaluation Department’s Cybersecurity Engineering Branch, is making waves in the cybersecurity field, both at Keyport and on a national stage. ? Gillian’s foray into cybersecurity began during her junior year of high school, when, at the encouragement of her computer science teacher, she attended the Rocket Girls cybersecurity camp at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s Kennedy Space Center. This experience introduced her to a variety of cybersecurity fields, and she took a particular interest in digital forensics. ? She went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in cyber operations and a master’s degree in cyber defense, both with honors, from Dakota State University. During her studies, she participated in the Department of Defense Cyber Scholarship Program (now the DoD Cyber Service Academy), which funded her master's degree and led her to her current role at Keyport, where she began working in 2023. ? Gillian’s coworkers praised her technical expertise, leadership skills, positive attitude, collaborative spirit and ability to translate complex technical information for a wide audience. ? "She is a hard-working, enthusiastic employee who enjoys diving into the work and finding the nuances,” said her supervisor. “She’s interested in a wide variety of things in our area outside of her assigned duties.” ? A coworker echoed these sentiments: "She’s super smart—truly the cream of the crop. She’s highly technically competent, and when she's assigned a task, she buckles down and knocks it out. If she runs into roadblocks, she researches solutions on her own and comes up with well-thought-out ideas and suggestions." ? Another coworker emphasized her humility and supportive nature: “She's kind, helpful and highly knowledgeable. She's very quiet about her own accomplishments but always celebrates those of others." ? Outside of work, Gillian enjoys reading, cooking, playing board games and spending time outdoors. Her outdoor pursuits include hiking, paddleboarding and exploring national parks. She also teaches classes at her alma mater, conducts independent cybersecurity research and regularly attends conferences to broaden her skills.

Earlier this month, Naval Undersea Warfare Center Division, Keyport Commanding Officer Capt. Clint Hoskins presented the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal to Chief Navy Diver Thomas S. Gerace III. The medal was in recognition of NDC Gerace’s outstanding contributions from December 2019 to January 2025, during which he served as the Diving Department’s leading chief petty officer. The award citation commended NDC Gerace’s exceptional management skills in overseeing 18 personnel and maintaining five diving life support systems. It also praised him for his selfless commitment to duty and elite-level leadership throughout his 20-year career. “His planning and coordination resulted in the highest possible score during one Diving Operational Readiness Inspection, two Naval Diving Safety Assessments, two TYCOM level inspections, and six DLSS re-certifications ensuring the continued operational success of the NUWC Dive Locker,” stated the nomination. “By his exceptional ability, personal initiative, and unwavering dedication to duty, Chief Gerace has reflected great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.” NDC Gerace, congratulations on this well-deserved recognition and thank you for your 20 years of dedicated service to the Navy!

Happy Monday, Team! Check out the spotlight below on another exemplary NUWC Division, Keyport employee! For nearly two years, Lyndel President has served as the equal employment opportunity counselor for Keyport and the Naval Sea Logistics Center. Throughout that time, he has distinguished himself through his professionalism, empathy and unwavering commitment to upholding the integrity of the EEO process. ? Lyndel grew up on the Caribbean island of Saint Lucia, where he spent his weekends exploring beaches with his family. These early adventures sparked a lifelong fascination with the ocean and its wildlife. Determined to become a marine biologist, he devoured every book and magazine he could find on fish and marine life. ? This dream followed him into adulthood, even after he moved to the United States and served five years in the Navy. However, he eventually realized that pursuing marine biology might not provide the financial stability he sought. ? "As I was looking into marine biology, I realized that unless you get lucky and land the right job in the right place, it doesn’t pay that well in America,” said Lyndel. “I was afraid if I went to the wrong place, I might struggle money-wise." ? Lyndel began his Navy service as a deckhand and later advanced to the role of operations specialist. Among his most notable achievements was earning the master helmsman qualification, which allowed him to navigate ships through challenging maneuvers, including those involved in replenishing at sea, pulling into port and traversing the Suez Canal. At one point, he was one of only two master helmsmen aboard the Nimitz-class nuclear aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74). Lyndel also performed EEO work as a collateral duty during his time in the Navy. ? Following his active-duty service, Lyndel worked as an inventory specialist with a contractor at Keyport. In this role, he tracked and managed the command’s assets and even played a part in its transition to Radio Frequency Identification barcode technology. ? In 2023, Lyndel became a permanent Keyport employee, stepping into his current role in the EEO Office. He has since become an invaluable member of his team and a key contributor to the success of both Keyport and NSLC. ? "Lyndel brings calmness, fluency and dexterity to our office,” said a coworker. “He's one of Keyport’s ‘hidden gems,’ guaranteeing a level playing field for everyone and ensuring each employee's knowledge, skills and abilities are the key factors in employment-related decisions." ? Outside of work, Lyndel enjoys hiking, visiting aquariums, caring for his pet fish, traveling, experiencing new cultures and playing video games with friends.

Since its launch in late 2023, the Wartime Readiness Action Team at NUWC Division, Keyport has made significant strides in building a culture of "durable wartime readiness" across the command. Check out the full story here:?https://lnkd.in/gfxXPdcu.

Happy Tuesday, Team! Check out the spotlight below on another exemplary NUWC Division, Keyport employee! Contracting Officer Riley Johnson is the definition of a high-performing, highly competent, dedicated professional who consistently goes above and beyond to support his team and the Navy's mission. Growing up, Riley was a model student with a mind for data and numbers. He was selected as a Washington Scholar and graduated as salutatorian from Klahowya Secondary School. Though initially drawn to engineering and science, he later developed a passion for economics, captivated by the analytical and sociological aspects of the field. “Economics really kind of captured my fascination,” said Riley. “It was kind of a more numerical, analytical way of rationalizing people's decisions—not just in purchasing power, but in terms of how people may value certain things and weigh those decisions against one other. So the social sciences aspect of that really drew me in.” He went on to earn a Bachelor of Science in economics from the University of Washington in just three years. After completing his degree, Riley worked as a program management analyst intern for the Federal Transit Administration, a role in which he helped streamline grant processes and improve data reporting. He then worked briefly in private industry as a risk investigator for Amazon Fulfillment, a job that involved troubleshooting inventory discrepancies. Riley joined Keyport as a contract specialist in 2017 and quickly became an invaluable asset to his team. He rapidly rose through the ranks and now manages a team of contract specialists tasked with securing contracts for the Navy. Riley's coworkers praised his collaborative spirit, meticulous attention to detail, strong work ethic and dedication to supporting the Navy's mission. “Riley’s very thorough,” said one coworker. “He double-checks everything, makes sure it's worded how it should be, and really listens to our needs.?He's very responsive. If I have a question he can't answer, he finds the answer and gets back to me.” Outside of work, Riley is a dedicated husband and father to three young boys, including a pair of four-year-old identical twins. He also enjoys videogaming and watching movies with his wife.